Match Reports

Arsenal 1 Newcastle United 0: Koscielny strikes to keep Arsenal on top

FROM early in the second half, you could feel rising discontent in the
stadium. Arsenal’s demanding fans were unhappy — with the referee, and with
Newcastle’s unhurried approach. There was also some frustration with the
home team’s performance. Then Laurent Koscielny scored from a corner and it
was as if someone had flicked a switch: the mood became a lot brighter.

Arsenal had not played well. There were periods when Newcastle were the more
incisive team and critical moments either side of the break when Georginio
Wijnaldum might have scored. Both times Petr Cech made excellent saves and
stopped the visitors taking a lead that would have allowed them to sit back
and play on the counterattack.

It was Chelsea skipper John Terry who predicted Cech would be worth 15 points
to whichever club he joined. He was not exaggerating. No goalkeeper in
Premier League history has more clean sheets and